Michigan Basketball: John Beilein’s top 6 NCAA tournament wins at U-M

No.4 Michigan upsets Louisville (2017)

Maybe the most painful loss in John Beilein’s Michigan basketball career came to Louisville in the 2013 national title game. The Wolverines had the lead and just couldn’t finish it off.

And while upsetting Louisville back in the third round of the 2017 NCAA tournament can’t make up for that loss, it was still an incredibly satisfying win.

It was also critical for Beilein and company. At one time that year, Michigan basketball didn’t look like it was going to make the NCAA tournament. The year before, U-M made it as an 11 seed and two seasons prior to that, not at all.

So the 2016-17 season really was a turning point for Michigan basketball. Not only did the Wolverines win the Big Ten Tournament, but they also got back to the Sweet 16, rallying from nine points down to defeat Louisville, thanks in large part to a legendary performance from Moe Wagner, who had 26 points and was 7-of-11 from the field.

The Wolverines only made six 3-pointers in that game, but Derrick Walton Jr. hit two and Wagner did enough to stun the Cardinals and leave every Michigan fan grinning from ear-to-ear.